Archive | April, 2008

The Warrior sent our Catholic Beat Writer, Remington Tonar, to New York City for Pope Benedict XVI’s first visit to the United States. He begins this piece by giving an account of the Papal trip and then assumes a first person perspective when reporting on his experience in New York City.

“Thus they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on one or another of them…and they were all cured” (Acts 5:15-16). In early Christianity, people crowded the streets to see Saint Peter, hoping to be cured or blessed by touching him, or even by standing in his passing shadow. Not much has changed in two-thousand years, as Pope Benedict XVI’s apostolic visit to America demonstrated. The pope, who is the 265th successor of Saint Peter, brought hundreds of thousands of Catholic faithful from all over the nation to Washington, D.C. and New York during his apostolic visit to the United States.

His Holiness, along with the Bishops of the United States, chose “Christ Our Hope” as the theme for this historic visit, which marks Benedict’s first visit to the United States as pope. In his advance message to the United States before his arrival, the Pope noted that his mission in coming to America was to, “proclaim this great truth: Jesus Christ is hope.” This visit of hope comes in the wake of the much publicized sex abuse crisis, which has ravaged and devastated the Catholic Church in America, and amidst a culture of increasing secularism. The Pope told reporters onboard what has been dubbed Shepherd One, the Papal airplane, that he was “deeply ashamed” of sex abuse by priests and that he would, “do everything possible to heal this wound.”

His Holiness landed in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday April 15, where he was met at Andrew’s Air Force Base by President Bush. It was the first time Bush greeted a head of state outside the White House. Here, he was greeted by multi-lingual renditions of Happy Birthday, to celebrate the Pontiff’s 81st birthday on the April 16. After a short meeting with the President, the Pope retired for the evening. On his birthday, Wednesday, he journeyed to the White House for a more extensive meeting with Bush, and he was greeted by 12,000 guests on the South Lawn. Following this reception, the Pope met with the Conference of Catholic Bishops at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington. In his address to the Bishops of the nation he acknowledged the deep fervor for faith in the U.S., and prompted them to continue their fight against materialism, relativism and secularism. He also encouraged the Bishops to be proactive in combating sex abuse, and affirmed some of the new programs adopted to help combat abuse, but noted that, “the policies and programs you [the bishops] have adopted need to be placed in a wider context.” He tied these words into the need to educate children on authentic and moral Christian sexuality and the need to fight pornography and the “crude manipulation of sexuality” that plagues American youth today.

The following morning the Pope celebrated Mass at Nationals Park for almost 50,000 in attendance, telling the faithful in his homily to be a “leaven of evangelical hope in American society, striving to bring the light and truth of the Gospel to the task of building an ever more just and free world for generations yet to come.” Also on Thursday, the Pope visited the Catholic University of America, and addressed Catholic educators from around the nation. In his speech he noted that, “first and foremost every Catholic educational institution is a place to encounter the living God.” Beyond this, the Pope also affirmed that Catholic identity does not depend on statistics, nor can it “simply be equated with orthodoxy of course content.” Rather, Catholic identity should be measured by more, “namely that each and every aspect of your learning communities reverberates within the ecclesial life of faith.” The Holy Father concluded by making it clear that while academic freedom is vital and important, using academic freedom to teach things contrary to the faith causes one to “obstruct or even betray the university’s identity and mission.” Thus, the Pope said, “teachers and administrators, whether in universities or schools, have the duty and privilege to ensure that students receive instruction in Catholic doctrine and practice.”

Marquette’s own president, Rev. Robert A. Wild, S.J., was in attendance. Wild spoke with The Warrior and outlined some of the highlights of the Pope’s address. Wild applauded the Pope’s encouragement of those present to not be complacent in the search for truth, which manifests itself in Jesus Christ. He highlighted faith as an integral part of Marquette’s mission believing that Marquette does a good job of executing that mission of authentic Catholic faith.

“There are areas that we can do better in,” admits Wild, but the “search for truth is not an easy business,” and it is something that Marquette continues to strive for.

The Pope also held an interreligious prayer service on April 17 and met with leaders of the Washington, D.C.. Jewish community.

On April 18, the Pope traveled to New York City, where he addressed the United Nations in both French and English, speaking of the need to protect religious freedom and human dignity. The Pope also held a meeting of leaders from different Christian denominations at St. Joseph’s Church in New York where he expressed his desire for Christian unity and reaffirmed the existence of objective truth, as well as the need for not only spiritual, but doctrinal unity.

“A clear convincing testimony to the salvation wrought for us in Christ Jesus,” the Pope noted, “has to be based upon the notion of normative apostolic teaching: a teaching which indeed underlies the inspired word of God and sustains the sacramental life of Christians.”

A PERSONAL ACCOUNT

While the Pope was busy spreading his message of hope in New York, I was in the back of a full twelve passenger van traveling to see the Pope on Saturday, April 19. With us were Marquette students Scott Emerson and Matt Shireman, as well as other people not affiliated with the University. We embarked Thursday afternoon and spent that night in South Bend, Indiana, and arrived in New York City late Friday night and settled in at the Crotona tutoring center in the Bronx for the evening. The next morning we awoke early for Mass and then, after a short breakfast, made haste to St. Joseph’s Seminary where the Pope would be speaking later that afternoon in a rally of seminarians and young faithful from across the nation. During that time, His Holiness was celebrating Mass for clergy and religious at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

When we arrived, the field behind St. Joseph’s Seminary was mildly populated; Secret Service, state and local police were heavily present. We found a place on the lawn about thirty feet from the stage where the Pope would be speaking exclusively with the seminarians, who had preferred placement right in front of the stage, in front of us. The next few hours were spent watching and listening to the music and dance performances that had been arranged for entertainment. Some of the more notable acts included the Christian groups Third Day, Salvador, Toby Mac, and priest-rapper Stan Fortuna. The festivities concluded with a brief performance by Kelly Clarkson, who would later appear again before the Pope’s departure to sing Ave Maria to His Holiness. Despite our tickets coming with free food passes, our group collectively fasted, in fear of losing our plot of lawn if we moved to get food. Our hunger, in conjunction with the 70 degree heat which was exacerbated by the increasing number of spectators, made the several hours of waiting for the Pope rather arduous.

“The youth rally was a long day of being out in the sun, without food and with little water, surrounded by tens of thousands of other people,” says Matt Shireman, a senior in Engineering with whom I traveled. “But it was incredible to be a part of the crowd when the Holy Father arrived.”

Upon arriving, His Holiness first visited the seminary chapel where he blessed handicapped children in a gesture of the Church’s love for all persons, even those on whom secular society places less value. After this, he traveled via Pope-mobile down to the field where 20,000 seminarians and youth awaited him. While at St. Joseph’s, the Pope encouraged youth to model their lives after those of the saints. He poignantly urged that America’s youth develop a personal relationship with Christ and realize the expansive wonder and awe found in the Christian faith, stating that, “sometimes, we are looked upon as people who speak only of prohibitions. Nothing could be further from the truth! Authentic Christian discipleship is marked by a sense of wonder. We stand before the God we know and love as a friend, the vastness of his creation, and the beauty of our Christian faith.”

“The Holy Father spoke directly to the hearts of young American Catholics,” notes Shireman. “It was all a bit surreal.”

Being able to experience the presence of the Pope, the successor of Saint Peter upon whom Christ built the Church (see Matthew 16:18), at St. Joseph’s Seminary was indeed a surreal experience. An even more surreal experience, however, was being able to attend Mass celebrated by him. The following day, Sunday, we again awoke early to make our way to Yankee Stadium, where the Pope would be celebrating Mass. Close to 60,000 people were in attendance, and the enormous volume of people made getting to the appropriate gate assigned on our tickets difficult. Our seats were not as spectacular as those we had the previous day at the seminary; however we had a great view of the elaborate stage and altar that had been erected for the Pope’s visit. When His Holiness finally arrived at Yankee Stadium, driving around the edge of the field in the Pope-mobile, the excited crowd rose with jovial applause and shouts. Indeed, it was an exciting moment, to be part of a vast number of Catholic faithful who were all united in a very special way in the presence of the Vicar of Christ on earth.

“Mass with the Pope was an awesome experience,” says Scott Emerson, a sophomore in Engineering, who was also among my traveling companions, “just to be in his presence, along with thousands of other Catholics who are all cheering and exited about their faith…it’s amazing.” Emerson points out that the Pope’s homily was as inspiring as it was intellectually challenging. “We have to remember that this Pope is a scholar. His speeches and homilies are very intellectual, as well as deep and insightful.”

In his homily at Yankee Stadium, the Pope challenged the faithful to follow Christ’s footsteps, telling those present that, “true freedom…is found only in the self-surrender which is part of the mystery of love. Only by losing ourselves, the Lord tells us, do we truly find ourselves.”

On his last day in the United States, the Pope visited Ground Zero, where he prayed for God to grant eternal light and peace to those who had perished in the September 11 attacks. After his stop at Ground Zero, the Pope made his way to JFK International Airport, where Vice-President Dick Cheney awaited him as he finished his apostolic visit to America. He thanked America for its hospitality and professed his joy in the faith of the American Catholic community. Bidding farewell to our nation, he took his leave and asked that Americans remember him in their prayers, leaving us with the words: “God bless America.”

This is my last editor’s column for The Warrior. Working for The Warrior as a writer, columnist and now, editor will probably be the thing I remember most about my time at Marquette. To see how far we’ve come as a paper is a phenomenal testament to the dedication of our many staff members over the years. I’m excited to see what avenues The Warrior will pursue in my absence.

In this issue, we have a great account of Pope Benedict XVI’s recent trip to New York City by Remington Tonar. When we realized that we had the opportunity to send Remington to the N-Y-C, it was a no-brainer. So, check that piece out… it’s the centerspread.

Katelyn Ferral wrote two good articles: One an interesting piece about Marquette’s treatment of Joseph McCarthy, who I would consider to be the most influential Marquette alumnus, historically speaking. And the other, she writes about her one-on-one, exclusive interview with former Attorney General during the Reagan years, Edwin Meese III. Also in news, Daniel Suhr has a wonderful tribute piece to Dr. Wolfe who’s teaching his last class session at Marquette today.

Adam Covach headed up a collaboration in an effort to decide what MUSG should do with its ever-expanding reserve fund. A joke amongst my friends is that some of the senators in MUSG said they would actually raise the activity fee if given the chance despite the fact that we don’t even use all the money as is. Thus, MUSG has a pool of unused money. Luckily for everyone, MUSG has decided to invest in an electronic LIMO, instead of buying us something we truly want like a country music act or some new squat racks in the rec center. Joseph Schuster also writes about the MUSG Senate in this issue. And his piece seems satirical and borders on funny until you realize it’s all true; then it’s just sad.

America’s post-secondary education system has largely turned into a liberal breeding-ground of intolerance, secularism and morally relativistic mushiness. And, to some degree, Marquette has fallen into this trap. But, for the student who truly desires an education oriented towards truth and discernment, there are professors on this campus who can help. At the risk of hurting their reputations amongst their liberal colleagues, here’s the list… Oh, and one more theme: they all tend to be very demanding.

The Rev. Steven Avella in the History department makes history come alive by telling it as a story. He frames most of American history as a continuation of the Hamiltonianism-Jeffersonianism battles that were so instrumental in the formation of our nation. He genuinely cares about his students, frequently talking with them outside of class.

Michael Donoghue, Ph.D., teaches using a give-and-take method with his students and assigns applicable books, which consequently results in a better understanding of the Carribean history and culture.

Darrell Dobbs, Ph.D., is perceived by many as intimidating, but I suspect that’s due to Dobbs’ lack of patience for those who do not prepare for class. Anyone who assigns C.S. Lewis’ “The Abolition of Man” is good to go in my book. Plus he has instilled a love of political philosophy in many students that gets brought out more in subsequent classes with Ryan Hanley, Ph.D., to whom I’ll always owe credit to for any defense of Adam Smith or capitalism I engage in.

John McAdams, Ph.D. has always been a personal mentor for me, helping me remember to never be afraid to take someone on, intellectually speaking, if I think correctly. And obviously, Dr. Christopher Wolfe, Ph.D., who has been a friend, mentor and teacher.

And finally, I think I speak for every student who ever took a classes with the Rev. Phillip Renczes, S.J., when I say to Marquette: Hire the man. His class on Joseph Ratzinger was amazing – he taught us well and remained faithful to the Cathechism. Fr. Joseph Mueller, S.J., was another great lecturer who has a knack for getting results from his students.

Almost all of these professors have a few things in common: I’ve seen most of them out having a beer or two with students; they see their students as people they need to mentor, not just teach. They are all tougher professors in terms of expectations. And they all encourage and demand classroom participation.

Also, on the Wednesday evening edition of Wheel of Fortune, my friend Sabrina Stephensen, a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences will represent Marquette during the show’s College Week. Without being blatant about the results, let’s just say there are 20,000 reasons to watch Sabrina compete for Marquette.

Daniel Suhr, the Mequon native who has served as The Warrior’s news columnist since our first issue in November 2005, will graduate in a few weeks from Marquette University Law School. Later this summer, Suhr will leave Milwaukee and accept a position with the Federalist Society in Washington, D.C. Suhr finished both his undergraduate and law school degrees in five years.

While an undergrad, Suhr was the 2004 Wisconsin state Chair of Students for George W. Bush and later served as the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Federation of College Republicans. Suhr was instrumental in the formation of The Warrior back in 2005.

In law school, Suhr currently serves as the President of the Marquette University Law School Federalist Society.

Suhr is the type of person who can walk into any gathering and know half the people. He is always happy to introduce his friends to anybody. A Lutheran, Suhr has been an ardent defender of Catholicism at Marquette, consistently voicing his displeasure with members of the Marquette faculty who try to hide this fact.

Suhr is an active blogger on gop3.com and a Marquette basketball season ticketholder.

The Warrior, Marquette and Wisconsin will miss him. But we must wish him good luck in all his future endeavors.

It seemed like just yesterday I was a nasty kid with long, curly hair moving into O’Donnell Hall whose biggest concern was sneaking beer past the RAs. And now, heading into the Marine Corps as a Second Lieutenant, I can’t help but see all the changes my fellow seniors have gone through without thinking how much time has actually passed. Through all this time and growth we’ve had at Marquette, the only constant is that sometimes we love Marquette and sometimes we hate it.

For example, we hated the utter disconnect between the Marquette administration and the students regarding the Warrior-Gold-Golden Eagle debacle. We students hated that we got made fun of by our friends at other schools for the administration’s stupidity. Anyone who lived on campus during that time knows that the vaaaast majority of student and alumni wanted the Warrior nickname back; we respect that tradition. But Marquette was held hostage by liberals and acted with an utter disregard for common sense. And the final word on that argument is this: obviously the Warrior nickname was a positive, not racist, name for athletic teams. Why would you name something you respect and revere – a university’s nickname – using a tone meant to degrade (racism)?

But, on the flipside, there were always moments like the Marquette-Notre Dame game in January 2006 when Steve Novak hit the baseline buzzer-beater to win. And then walking out of the Bradley Center to party and realizing we were in the middle of a blizzard… At moments like that, we love Marquette and don’t care if we’re the Warrior-Gold-Golden Eagles or the Chimpanzees.

Another thing people tell me they hate about Marquette is the obvious liberal bias. From the speakers Marquette selects, to the opening of a Center for Peacemaking to the hiring of a Diversity provost, conservative students are often left in the dark, wondering if it’s even possible to be Catholic and conservative. And this is, largely, Marquette’s fault. When was the last time anybody from Marquette mentioned school choice, which should be our school’s number one social justice issue.

But, I think that the truth is this: Marquette students are mostly conservative and our conservatism is at odds with the intolerant climate of liberal academia. But we know that this exists and largely ignore it. I mean, how bad is a diversity forum if less than a dozen people show up? Overall, I think we should love the good things about Marquette and fight the bad things.

And to all my Marine Corps buddies on campus… Wow, from the craziness that was Spring Break 2008 in the Wisconsin Dells to the insanity that was our Bulldog workouts, it’s been fun. You all are some of the best, smartest guys I’ve ever met. America’s lucky to have you to defend her and I consider myself lucky to be able to serve in the Marine Corps with you.

So Marquette, after all the hate mail I’ve gotten over the last three years of having this column, it comes down to this: the United States has plenty of good universities, what it doesn’t have enough of are good universities that are truly Catholic. Don’t be afraid to be Catholic and have opinions not generally accepted in academia.

It is time you learned something about politicians: they are a smart breed. Every single one of them, even the ones usually referred to in the media as “idiots.” There is no way a common idiot can master the arts of both double-speak and selective truth telling to such a degree that they can influence the majority of the voters in their respective districts, states, or nations to get elected.

They usually don’t tell you what you need to hear, but instead convey what they want you to hear. These words have the magical ability to stir people up into an absolute flurry of passion that causes voters to open up their wallet or give up their time. However before you follow the battle cries of believable change (with no definite course of action) or join the revolution (what are we revolting against, by the way?), step back and do what most Americans fail to do on a daily basis – think.

In my opinion, two of the most hot button issues that should have been handled ten years ago are those of social security and our country’s health care. We hear promises that they shall be fixed but are given no results. Bias aside, I absolutely applaud President Bush for making an effort to try and fix social security. It does not matter if you appreciate the idea of privatized social security or not, he is the first politician in a long time who gave a concerted effort to reform this ailing system. His proposals caused a national stir with fierce proponents of both sides coming out of the wood work. But in the end, it did not matter. Senators and representatives alike bickered the bill apart and nothing happened.

Health care is in the same boat. Something needs to be done, but the realist in me knows nothing will be accomplished. As long as someone is willing to pay the bills (Uncle Sam or insurance companies), prices will continue to increase. This is great as long as you are either willing to live in poverty or are lucky enough to have full coverage through your job. The only people who get screwed are those who unfortunately fall into neither category.

People see the flaws. And the sad part is, anyone who tries to do anything about them is annihilated by either the media or the opposing party, often unable to win reelection afterwards. This brings me back to my original point of politicians being smart. Most of them know not to come anywhere near these issues if they want to keep their jobs. It is not that they do not have plans or proposals. No, any politician worth his salt has his own ideas for fixing these problems. Rather, these ideas are kept top secret, because they are waiting.“For what?” you might ask. It is simple really – for something to break. In this world, timing is everything. The day social security collapses, AARP and our generation will be willing to do pretty much anything to save the system. When it costs over a thousand dollars for a physical, socialized health care suddenly does not sound so bad, even if we all know it is a giant mistake.

This electoral season, don’t get carried away by rhetoric. Look for the few gems who will stand for what they believe in, even if they know it is hopeless. To President Bush, for standing by his social security plan, policies on Iraq and tax breaks, I salute you. To Ted Kennedy and John McCain for proposing a viable solution to immigration, I give you applause. Pray this electoral season God gives us brave men and women willing to take chances like these men have in the past few years, even if it is a long shot. Only then will true change occur.

A private business owner should maintain the right to make decisions for his/her own establishment, and consumers should make their personal decision as to whether they will enter.Governor Doyle’s proposed statewide smoking ban would strip business owners of their ability to decide whether or not they can permit smoking. This is a gross infringement on personal freedom.Yes, secondhand smoke is dangerous for everyone, and smoking should not be permitted in public places. But a bar is NOT a public place — it is private, and you choose to enter a bar. If a bar has smoking and you don’t like smoke, stop whining and go somewhere else. Done.

Uhle’s Pipe Shop owner, Jeff Steinbock, believes there are ulterior motives aside from the obvious health aspects.“The anti-smoking industry, and it is an industry, not a movement, is trying to take away owners right to make a decision,” he said. “Pharmaceutical companies are lobbying the government, because they will make money off of products people buy to try to quit smoking, such as gum, patches, etc.”

Ever come across an anti-smoking ad sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation? The RWJF “focuses on the pressing health and health care issues facing our country,” according to their website, RWJF.org. Robert Wood Johnson is the founder of Johnson & Johnson. Johnson & Johnson is the manufacturer of pharmaceutical nicotine products, Nicoderm and Nicoderm CQ, through its subsidiary ALZA.No wonder the RWJF spends hundreds of millions of dollars each year so colleges and not-for-profit organizations like the American Lung Association, American Cancer Society, and American Heart Association can produce gross exaggerations about the effects of smoking. Then smokers can go to tobacco-less nicotine products, made by Johnson & Johnson.According to the history section of the RWJF website, “The philanthropy we practice seeks to be transformative—to change society and the lives of all Americans for the better.” Yeah — change the life of your bank account for the better.

Large amounts of methane gas are harmful to the environment. What’s next? A fart ban, and coinciding Johnson & Johnson Farts-Begone-Patches?

Don’t buy into the anti-smoking propaganda. Don’t let a smoking ban ruin local business and steal our ability to make personal choices.

As exams approach and the weather warms up it becomes apparent that summer is quickly approaching and soon golf courses everywhere will be open to relieve the stress of the long school year.

Milwaukee County offers fifteen great golf courses across the Greater Milwaukee area that range from professional grade such as Brown Deer to courses for beginners like Zablocki. The best part about the golf courses around Milwaukee is their variety of difficulty. It does not matter whether you see yourself as the next Tiger or you don’t know the difference between a driver and a putter, chances are at least one golf course will fit you perfectly. If you are someone who has a low to handicap (or none at all), then Milwaukee County’s Brown Deer Golf Course is the perfect fit for you. This bunker filled golf course is home to the annual Greater Milwaukee Open and offers eighteen of the most challenging holes in Wisconsin.

Even if you’re the best golfer among anyone you know, chances are you will run into some trouble here. It is a par 71 golf course with a course rating of 72. 9; meaning that if you make a mistake at this eighteen, its hazards will punish you. If you are able to register with Milwaukee County as a resident, green fees for Brown Deer can run for under $25, but if you call your home state some place other than Wisconsin, chances are it is going to cost you about $70 to play at this prestigious public course.

There are also several great courses outside of Milwaukee County that offer great variety and interesting game play. Silver Spring Golf & Banquet Center located in Menomonee Falls is a 36-hole treasure with a price that would have even the stingiest golfer willing to play a round of eighteen. This course has two signature courses, both providing challenging fun for a mediocre to good golfer. Silver Springs is also the proud owner of the only natural grass island hole in all of Wisconsin which provides a unique experience for any golfer. With a course rating of 71. 6 and 67. 4 for the two courses, it provides golfers with the option of choosing their degree of difficulty they wish to play.

If you can find yourself able to get out of bed early enough, you can play this par 72 golf course for around $25 if you book your tee-time online. If that is not enough to convince you to reserve a tee time right now, every round comes with a GPS equipped cart. Unless you are an avid golfer, you probably get frustrated hitting six balls into the woods or into the sand traps. Luckily for you Milwaukee offers several par 3 golf courses that are great for golfers who rarely go and may not even own a set of clubs. Courses such as Doyne and Zablocki are short nine-hole courses for less than $10 and are great for anyone who is unfamiliar with the game. Even if you are an experienced golfer these courses will help refine your short game, and the best part is that due to its short layout you will only need a few clubs, and if you don’t have them you can rent them from the clubhouse.

Whether you are a long time golfer or someone who wants to give it a go for the first time, Milwaukee and the surrounding area offers an excellent array of golf courses. These courses are fun for every level of play and even with an entire summer to waste, it would be hard to get bored with the dozens of available courses. So any student spending their summer in Milwaukee would have to work real hard to find enough excuses not to get out there and tee up a ball for a great day on the links.

Now that the weather is getting nice – well… nicer – many students will be busting out their trusty bicycles from the basement and taking to the streets.

There are many good bike trails located near the Marquette campus that students can easily access for a good time. The main trail that many people use in the Milwaukee area is the Oak Leaf trail. The Oak Leaf trail covers several different parks, streets and multi-use trails in Milwaukee County. Probably the most popular part of the trail runs along Lake Michigan. From Marquette it is easily accessed by riding east down towards the art museum. Once you ride past the art museum you can pick up the trail and head along the lake.

The trail heads north for several miles right along the lake before heading inland near UWM. You can also take the trail south for another entertaining ride, especially south of the Summerfest grounds in the area commonly known as seven bridges. Here the trail is almost entirely separate from street traffic, which is not always the case for the entire trail. While this trail can get crowded in the summer, especially on the weekends, it is still nice to be right along the lake and feel the cool breeze out of the east.

A new trail in Milwaukee is the Hank Aaron trail. It starts just southwest of downtown near 13th and Canal Street, runs along the river past Miller Park and continues toward Doyne Park. This is a fully paved bike and running trail. The eventual plan is to link Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River. While this is clearly a very long term project it is moving forward and new sections are constantly opening. It is best to look online in order to see what sections are open each season. Most of you know this trail as the one that runs along the river next to the east Miller Stadium parking lots. Because the trail is new, it typically is not as crowded as the lakefront trail, which is nice, especially if you are looking to really fly down the path.

The Milwaukee area also has several other trails further out in state parks. Many of these include off-road mountain biking trails and other trails with a variety of surfaces. In order to look up a list of these, simply google “Milwaukee bike trails” and you will run into several Web sites and maps that can provide you with trails that fit what you are looking for.

The year is 1982; Michael Jackson sells more than 25 million album copies, John Belushi dies, a man is found not guilty of trying to assassinate the President, gas is at $1.30 a gallon and the Milwaukee Brewers win the pennant. Sounds like a crazy year, huh?

Holding the title for longest active playoff drought in Major League Baseball, the Brewers have not made the playoffs since their memorable trip to the World Series in 1982, capturing the American League pennant but ultimately falling to the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series.

Barring another meltdown like last season that saw the Brew Crew blow an 8½ game lead and end their 133 day reign atop the National League Central, this could be the Brewers’ year to make it into October. But for that to happen the team needs to see consistency from its big name players as well as its bullpen, something that has been severely lacking.

Nevertheless, the Brewers will enter play against the Chicago Cubs with a 14-11 record, only two games behind the North-siders for the lead of the National League Central Division. Come the end of September, expect a three-team race in the Central with the Cardinals, Cubs and Brewers all vying for first.The Brewers, who won six of their first seven games, have been winning games with defense and timely play from some unlikely catalysts. Newly-signed catcher Jason Kendall is batting .308 with 24 hits in 23 games in his first year with the Brewers. Veteran and Whitefish Bay native Craig Counsel is off to an unexpected start as well, batting .306 and providing some clutch hitting.But what has been the feel-good story of the year to this point is the play of outfielder Gabe Kapler. The 32-year old retired after the 2006 season and spent last season managing the Boston Red Sox Class-A-affiliate in Greenville. Since coming out of retirement Kapler battled for a roster spot in spring training, made the team, and is now batting .288 with 13 RBIs.The value of Kapler’s play has been immeasurable as he has helped fill in for another outfielder, free-agent signee Mike Cameron, who was suspended 25 games by the MLB for testing positive for a banned stimulant. Cameron, who looked tremendous in spring training, will make his Brewer debut on Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs. To make room for Cameron the team traded outfielder Gabe Gross to Tampa Bay and in a surprising move optioned pitcher Dave Bush to Triple-A-affiliate Nashville.Also on Tuesday, Brewers ace Ben Sheets will make his return since leaving an April 18 game with tightness in his right triceps. So far the gold-medalist is 3-0 with a 0.96 ERA in four starts over 28 innings in this, a contract year.But what has been a reoccurring thorn in the side of the Brewers this year has been an inconsistent bullpen. The Crew retooled their pen during the off-season acquiring right-hand relievers David Riske, Salomon Torres and Guillermo Mota.Also, in an effort to offset the loss of last year’s closer Francisco Cordero to Cincinnati, the team signed closer Eric Gagne to a $10 million contract. But the 2003 NL Cy Young Award winner has been anything but stellar, blowing four saves in 11 opportunities. Put that together with set-up man Derrick Turn”blow”s 7.94 ERA and you would be convinced the Brewers could not close a door, let alone a game.Sunday night against the Florida Marlins, pitcher Seth McClung contributed to the team’s pitching woes by giving up a solo homerun to former Brewer Wes Helms in the top of the 10th inning, lifting the Marlins to a victory over the Brewers.

But the most ambivalent fact of the Brewers season is that none of its superstars have been playing up to par. Last year’s Rookie of the Year Ryan Braun is playing nowhere near his ability level but still is batting a respectable .255 average.

Moreover, the MLB’s youngest player to hit 50 homeruns, Prince Fielder has battled through an uncharacteristic stretch posting a slugging percentage .176 points lower than last season. Even worse, shortstop J.J. Hardy is batting .218 while second baseman Rickie Weeks is batting a morbid .191.With the team’s best players working to find their stride, the Brewers have been fortunate enough to fall back on the apt hitting of its role players and, notwithstanding its lapses in the bullpen, sound defense. The team has managed to keep nearly every single game to this point close (1/3 of the team’s games have gone into extra innings).Being only two games behind the Cubs, a forthcoming three-game series this week and 137 games for the team to play to its offensive potential, the Brewers have very little to worry about. In keeping with celebratory slide tradition, come October, Bernie the Brewer might just have a very sore bottom.

Dr. Christopher Wolfe, a Marquette political science professor for thirty years, has had a long-lasting impact on Marquette University. As The Warrior first reported on October 11, 2006, Wolfe will be leaving Marquette to form a university of his own following this May’s graduation ceremony. The author of many books, Wolfe’s staunch defense of the Catholic Faith has often stood in contrast to the many moral relativists at Marquette. Known for engaging, lecture-filled class sessions and epic exams, Wolfe’s Constitutional Law and Civil Liberties class have a unique reputation among the brave Marquette students who have endeavored to take them.

For students like senior in the College of Arts and Sciences LesleyAnn Neulreich, the tangible benefits of Wolfe’s class are clear. “It’s hard work,” she says, “It’s very intense- but upon completion, I walked out never feeling so much gratification–it’s very rewarding. I respect him as a teacher because he asks a lot of you, he’s very intelligent and has a unique lecture style I’ve never seen duplicated. It’s intimidating, but afterwards you see the purpose- the reward is greater than the time put in.”

Dr. Wolfe has been very influential to many members of The Warrior staff. He has written the following piece as a farewell address to Marquette. Also included is a gift Wolfe intends for the serious student: a reading list of the books he considers worthwhile.

by Dr. Christopher Wolfe

I have to begin my “Farewell to Marquette” column, which The Warrior has kindly invited me to write, by expressing my gratitude to many people.

First, I want to thank my colleagues at Marquette, especially the members of the political science department. Academic life is famous for its bitter infighting and backstabbing, and in thirty years at Marquette I have experienced none of that. I have been fortunate to be part of a department where my colleagues have been unusually intelligent, hardworking, amicable, and decent people. It’s also an unusually balanced department, in terms of political views and different approaches to the study of politics. We have sometimes differed and on rare occasions debates have even become (shall we say) “animated,” but civility and mutual respect have been the constant norm in our department.

Second, I have to thank the Marquette administrations over three decades, which have always treated me very fairly – even generously. Marquette has clear criteria for professional excellence, requiring a balance of good teaching and solid scholarship according to the prevailing standards of the various academic disciplines. While I think that these standards are sometimes problematic, there is much to be said for the clarity and fairness with which Marquette applies its criteria, and I am grateful for the respect and freedom it has accorded me.

Third, I want to thank my students at Marquette, and in particular the students in my constitutional law classes over the years. Every semester I tell students – because it’s true – how much I enjoy teaching constitutional law, not only because the material is intrinsically very interesting (combining both theoretical and practical questions), but also because those courses have attracted students who are above average in their intellectual ability and who are willing to work very hard – which is a blessing both for me and (as I remind them) themselves.

Fourth, even though I have been “retired” for eight years now, I have to thank the faculty and staff with whom I played “noon hoops” for many years. We got to know so well how we each played that it was impossible to just run up and down the court and play one-on-one – we had to actually play serious (team) basketball. Both the basketball and the friendships were great to have.

Having acknowledged at least some of the debts I owe (and there are many others I could thank), I guess a “farewell” also leaves me with the opportunity to offer students some advice.

First, remember that college is not primarily about vocational preparation. If you do a good job of pursuing a liberal education, the side-benefits include learning how to think clearly, read well, and express yourself well in writing and speech. That will prepare you for a plethora of jobs – it only leaves you with the admittedly challenging task of figuring out which one (or ones) to pursue. But the main goal of college is to develop your intellectual abilities and to come to understand and reflect on the “perennial” questions of human life, and especially the question “how should I live my life?”

Second, seek out a mentor who has a coherent view of education – if possible, one deeply rooted in the Western, especially Catholic, intellectual tradition. (Yes, there is much of value in non-Western and non-Catholic cultures, and we should seek those things out; but, in the final analysis, for those of us who are Christian, the achievements of Jerusalem, Athens, and Rome should provide a framework for our study.) Seek such a mentor’s advice, not only as you choose courses, but as you go along in your study.

Third, seek out friends for whom the intellectual life (in the broadest sense) is important. Intellect isn’t everything, and much of your growth in personal maturity during college years will come in activities that are not primarily intellectual (sports, dating, friendships, service opportunities). But what a university especially has to offer you is a chance to develop your intellect, and, above all, a chance to develop a broad framework for understanding reality that should help you prepare for the rest of your life – as a worker, yes, but more importantly, as a “lifelong student,” as a citizen, as a friend, as a husband or wife, as a father or mother, and as a person – ultimately, as a child of God, as a member of the Church, and as another link in the handing down of the faith to future generations. You may know other people who are smart and get good grades, but they won’t necessarily be the ones I’m talking about (though they may be). It’s the people who genuinely have the gift of “wonder” – the ones who understand the gift that life is, the gift that our human capacity to know and love is, and who respond by living a life in pursuit of “the good, the true, and the beautiful.”

Fourth, prepare for your likely future marriage well – that is, learn how to love, by coming to know the “person.” Understand that sex before marriage almost certainly will make it more difficult to think clearly and act selflessly. Don’t trivialize sex by treating it as “taking” from others, or as even as a “giving” of anything less than your full self for your whole life. Exalt it by reserving it for the unique one-flesh communion of love and life called marriage. And when you are married, don’t pass up the wonderful opportunity to have a bunch of kids – they are truly an extraordinary blessing from God.

Fifth, be grateful to your parents (and those who came before them), whose sacrifices have made it possible for you to have this extraordinary opportunity, which so many other people have not had. Repay them by using your time in college very well.

Lastly, spend your time in college as what it is: a preparation for the rest of your life. It’s not a last opportunity to live an irresponsible life of “fun.” In fact, it’s more an opportunity to learn how to have fun living a full and responsible life. Anyone who has the opportunity to spend four years pursuing a liberal education should feel tremendously blessed – just as I should, and do, feel blessed to have had the good fortune to be a part of Marquette for these thirty years.

And as a parting gift to students, Dr. Wolfe requested that The Warrior run the recommended reading list he’s compiled in his many years of study. Feel free to cut this guide out.

Dr. Wolfe’s Recommended Reading LIST

Fiction

Pride and Prejudice (and everything else) by Jane Austen

Mr. Sammler’s Planet by Saul Bellow

Diary of a Country Priest by Georges Bernanos

The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Doestoevsky

The Cypresses Believe in God by Jose Maria Gironella

The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene

The Children of Men by P.D. James

Freddy and Fredericka by Mark Helprin

The Betrothed by Alessandro Manzoni

The Viper’s Tangle by Francois Mauriac

A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter Miller

Love in the Ruins by Walker Percy

The First Circle and The Cancer Ward by Alexander Solzhenitzyn

Vanity Fair by William Thackeray

Anna Karenina and The Death of Ivan Illyich by Leo Tolstoy

Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope

Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev

Kristan Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Present Value by Sabin Willett

A Man in Full by Tom Wolfe

Non-Fiction

Witness by Whitaker Chambers

Orthodoxy and Everlasting Man by G.K. Chesterton

The Indispensable Man by James Thomas Flexnor (biography of George Washington)

The Clash of Civilizations by Samuel Huntington

The Hidden Stream and In Soft Garments by Ronald Knox (and the collections of his sermons)

The Great Divorce, The Abolition of Man and Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

Apologia Pro Vita Sua, A Grammar of Assent, The Idea of a University, and On the Development of Christian Doctrine by John Henry Newman (and his collections of sermons)

A Parliament of Whores, Holidays in Hell and What’s Wrong with the World by P.J. O’Rourke

Lost in the Cosmos: The Last Self-Help Book by Walker Percy

Belief and Faith, Leisure the Basis of Culture, The Four Cardinal Virtues, and Reality and the Good by Josef Pieper